Apparatus for graphprinting



Jan. 8, 1957 W. QUlMBY APPARATUS FOR GRAPHPRINTING Filed Feb. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WALTER QUIMBY n- 1957 w. QUIMBY APPARATUS FOR GRAPHPRINTING Filed Feb. 24. 1954 mmvroa Qu I M BY Af/WH/YE) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WALTER United States Patent APPARATUS FOR GRAPHPRINTING Walter Quimby, New York, N. Y.

Application February 24, 1954, Serial No. 412,254

8 Claims. (Cl. 101-328) This invention relates to a roller device for printing graph squares on a sheet of paper.

The main object of the invention is to provide a generally improved roller device which can be utilized to advantage in swiftly and easily printing crossing lines on a sheet so as to facilitate the subsequent application of a bar, broken line, or other type of graph to said sheet, thus eliminating the cost of purchasing a quantity of graph paper, which is relatively expensive as compared to blank sheets.

Another object of importance is to permit interchanging of the rollers of the device, so as to permit the printing of sheets of graph paper differing from one another with respect to the spacing of the graph lines thereof.

Another object is to provide, in association with theroller of the device, an inking pad carried by the frame in which the roller is rotatably mounted, said inking pad being so designed as to be yieldably urged into contact with the surface of the roller to keep the same properly inked during use thereof.

A further object is to provide, in association with the roller, guide means that will assure straight line movement of the device during the operation thereof.

Yet another object is to permit said guide means to be adjusted laterally of the roller so as to permit accurate placement of the roller preliminary to the making of each stroke across the sheet of paper.

Still another object is to provide means in the shield of the device that will hold the roller against undesirable endwise movement during use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a topplan view of the roller device as it appears when in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1. v

Fig; 3 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of theinking pad per se,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view through the roller.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the guide rail taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the guide rod carried by the roller device.

The reference numeral 10 has been applied generally to a roller device formed in accordance with the present invention. The device is shown in Fig. l in use printing a series of graph squares on a sheet of paper 12 tacked at its corners to the surface of a drawing board 14, to one edge of which is secured a guide rail 16.

Patented Jan. 8, 1957 The roller device includes a transversely curved shield 18 having flat end walls 20 each of which is formed with a straight bottom edge having intermediate its ends a depending ear 22. The ears 22 are formed with openings 24 aligned longitudinally of the shield, and extending into said openings are the inturned free ends 26 of wire yoke arms 28. The yoke arms are bent inwardly toward one another in back of the shield intermediate their ends, as best shown in Fig. 1, and have convergent inner ends 30 extending in contact with one another, said inner ends being engaged fixedly in the axial socket of the inner end of a handle 32.

Rigid with the ends 26 of the yoke arms, and spaced inwardly a short distance from the terminals of said ends 26, are circumferential collars 34. In this connec tion, it should be noted that the yoke arms are of spring wire material, and are tensioned to normally urge the ends 26 toward one another so as to keep the same normally engaged in the openings 24 of the shield end walls. The collars, of course, limit inward movement of the ends 26 under the pressure of the yoke arms, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the collars are each formed, at diametrically opposite locations thereon, with inwardly extending pins 35 that engage in correspondingly located apertures formed in the end walls 20. In this way, the shield is held against tilting about the axis defined by the ends 26 of the yoke arms, and will be effectively retained against movement relative to the yoke arms and handle.

A roller 36 is disposed below the shield so as to be partially covered thereby, and is provided with a core covered by a sleeve 38. Sleeve 38 can be of any suitable material such as rubber, while the core can be of wood, metal, or other hard material. The sleeve is tightly fitted on the core, but can be removed for replacement should replacement be necessary after extended use.

On the outer surface of the sleeve, there are integrally formed circumferential ribs 40 spaced uniformly through the length of the sleeve. lntersectiug with the ribs 40 are straight, longitudinally extending ribs 42, the ribs 42 being spaced circumferentially of the sleeve and extending through the full length thereof. The ribs 42 would be spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the ribs 40, and thus, the rotation of the roller while the same is held in engagement with the sheet of paper 12 will result in the printing of a series of crossing graph lines.

The construction of each rib 40 or 42 is of importance, and is shown to advantage in Fig. 6. As will be noted, each rib is provided with a narrow, top surface 44, and with upwardly converging, slightly bowed side surfaces 46. This construction strengthens the ribs, and prevents distortion thereof during use of the device, or during the application of a sleeve to a roller core.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it is here to be noted that when the handle is grasped, and the device is shifted in the direction of the arrow, a series of graph blocks 48 will be imprinted on the sheet of the paper, the lines defining said blocks resulting from contact of the crossing ribs 40, 42, with the sheet of paper. The ribs will be the only contact with the paper, it should be noted, and are raised sufiiciently above the surface of the sleeve as to insure against contact of the sleeve surface proper with the sheet.

The roller is rotatably mounted on the inturned ends 26 of the yoke arms, the roller core being provided, as shown in Fig. 3, with an axial bore in which the ends 26 engage, said ends fitting sufliciently loosely in the bore ends to permit ready rotation of the roller.

inking means is carried by the device, so as to cause the ribs to be continuously inked during the travel thereof across the paper. Said inking means is shown to advantage in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and includes an elongated, transversely curved inking pad 52 carried by a pad holder 54. Pad holder 54 is formed from thin sheet metal bent to a transverse shape corresponding to that of the pad, and covers the pad completely. To hold the pad in the holder, the holder is formed with a depending peripheral flange 56 having, at spaced intervals, inwardly bent teeth 53 that engage in the sides and ends of the pad.

The inking pad is spring pressed into engagement with the roller surface, and to this end, the holder 54 has a longitudinally and centrally arranged series of upstanding cups 60 soldered or otherwise made rigid with the holder. The cups 60 receive downwardly opening cups 62 fixedly secured to and depending from the underside of the shield medially between the longitudinal edges of the shield. Cups 62 telescope slidably in the cups 6% and within the telescoped cups, springs 64 are held under compression. Thus, the inking pad is yieldably and continuously urged into contact with the ribs 49, 42, as the ribs pass thereunder during use of the device. The ribs are thereby kept inked so as to provide a clear printing of the graph squares on the sheet 12 during the full travel of the roller from end to end of said sheet.

When desired, a different roller can be inserted in the frame defined by the shield, yoke, and handle, merely by springing the yoke arms outwardly until the ends 26 move out of the bore 50 to free the roller for removal. While this operation is being carried out, the shield is held inverted to prevent the inking pad from dropping out. It will be understood, in this regard, that the springs 64 are selected so as not to expand to such an extent as would cause the cups 60, 62 to be fully separated.

A new roller, having, for example, a greater spacing between its ribs than that characterizing the roller previously in the frame, may now be inserted, after which the yoke arms are allowed to spring back to rotatably mount the roller in the frame. The collars will shift into engagement with end walls 20 when the yoke arms spring back, to engage pins 35 in the apertures provided therefor.

The guide means used to insure straight line movement of the roller is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, and includes a pair of ears 66 rigid with the shield adjacent the leading longitudinal edge thereof. The ears are provided with coaxial apertures receiving a guide rod 68 slidably adjustable in the direction of its length within the ears, along a line paralleling the axis of the roller. Guide rod 68, when it has been adjusted as desired, is secured in the selected position of adjustment by set screws 70 threadedly engaged in the ears and adapted to be advanced into engagement with the guide rod.

One end of the guide rod is projected laterally beyond one end of the roller shield, as shown in Fig. 1, and this end of the rod is formed with a depending extension 72 on the lower end of which there is fixedly secured a fiat, rectangular foot 74 freely slidable in an elongated guide groove 76 formed centrally and longitudinally of a guide rail 78 secured fixedly, as by screws 80, to one side edge of the drawing board 14.

By reason of this construction, the roller device will be kept in a straight line during the travel thereof across the sheet of paper, to print an accurate series of graph blocks. After one group of blocks has been printed,

another group can be printed alongside the first group, by making a new adjustment of the guide rod.

it is desirable that the roller be held against axial shifting during rotation thereof, and to this end, the end walls 29 are formed integrally with inwardly struck tongues 82 (Figs. 3 and 5), which are spring tensioned to exert pressure against the adjacent ends of the roller tending to hold the same against axial deviation.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, the frame including a handle and yoke arms secured to the handle, and having inwardly turned ends on which the roller is mounted, said frame further including a shield partially covering the roller, and means holding the shield against movement relative to the frame, said shield-holding means including collars on the inwardly turned ends of the yoke arms and spaced pins on the collars, the shield having end walls apertured to receive the pins.

2. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, the frame including a handle and yoke arms secured to the handle, and having inwardly turned ends on which the roller is mounted, said frame further including a shield partially covering the roller, and means holding the shield against movement relative to the frame, said shield-holding means including collars on the inwardly turned ends of the yoke arms and spaced pins on the collars, the shield having end walls apertured to receive the pins, the yoke arms being of springable material so as to be disengageable from the roller and shield.

3. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, a shield on the frame partially covering the roller, and means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, said means including an inking pad curved transversely 'correspondingly to the roller surface, a holder for said pad, and springs interposed between the holder and shield to urge the pad and bolder into contact with the roller surface, said holder being transversely curved correspondingly to the pad and having a depending peripheral flange formed with teeth engaged in the side and end surfaces of the pad.

4. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, a shield on the frame partially covering the roller, and means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, said means including an inking pad curved transversely correspondingly to the roller surface, a holder for said pad, and springs interposed between the holder and shield to urge the pad and holder into contact with the roller surface, said holder being transversely curved correspondingly to the pad and having a depending peripheral flange formed with teeth engaged in the side and end surfaces of the pad, the holder and shield having telescoping cups in which said springs are seated.

5. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, a shield on the frame partially covering the roller, means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, and guide means for keeping the roller in a straight line during movement thereof across a sheet on which graph blocks are to be printed, said guide means including a guide rod carried by the shield and having at one end a depending extension formed with a guide foot at its lower end, said guide means further including a guide rail adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and proportioned to provide a guide surface along which the foot may slide.

6. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating'therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, a shield on the frame partially covering the roller, means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, and guide means for keeping the roller in a straight line during movement thereof across a sheet on which graph blocks are to be printed, said guide means including a guide rod carried by the shield and having at one end a depending extension formed with a guide foot at its lower end, said guide means further including a guide rail adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and proportioned to provide a guide surface along which the foot may slide, the guide rail being formed with an end to end guide groove in which the foot is slidably engaged.

7. A roller device for printing graph blocks comprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, a shield on the frame partially covering the roller, means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller, and guide means for keeping the roller in a straight line during movement thereof across a sheet on which graph blocks are to be printed, said guide means including a guide rod carried by the shield and having at one end 2. depending extension formed with a guide foot at its lower end, said guide means further including a guide rail adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and proportioned to provide a guide surface along which the foot may slide, the guide rod being arranged parallel to the axis of the roller and being adjustable in the direction of its length, said one end of the guide rod being extended laterally beyond one end of the shield.

6 8. A roller device for printing graph blocks c0mprising a frame, a roller rotating therein and having circumferential ribs and longitudinally extending ribs crossing one another at prescribed intervals, means carried by the frame adapted to ink the ribs during rotation of the roller,

the frame including a handle and yoke arms secured to i the handle, and having inwardly turned ends on which the roller is mounted, said frame further including a shield partially covering the roller, and means holding the shield against movement relative to the frame, said shield-holding means including collars on the inwardly turned ends of the yoke arms and spaced pins on the collars, the shield having end walls apertured to receive the pins, the yoke arms being of springable material so as to be disengageable from the roller and shield, the shield having inwardly struck tongues on its ends engageable against the roller to hold the roller against endwise movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 321,223 Keeler June 30, 1885 549,350 Fishback Nov. 5, 1895 668,069 Unger Feb. 12, 1901 1,044,026 Crook Nov. 12, 1912 1,351,070 Sei-tz Aug. 31, 1920 1,665,197 Lederer Apr. 3, 1928 1,914,035 Moeschlin June 13, 1933 2,073,308 Klein Mar. 9, 1937 2,299,242 Lui Oct. 20, 1942 2,451,595 Wheeler Oct. 19, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 252,796 Great Britain June 7, 1926 

